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THE CUISIS 



TMLYIC TWICE ERE YOU SPEAK OJ\TE 



BLI 



WHEN YOU SPEAK— SPEAK THE TRUTH, 



VITHOUr 



FEAR, FAVOR OR AFFECTION« 



^^'othin^ extenuate — 7101' set down aiis:lit in maliceJ^ 






r 



THE CRISIS. 



Democratic citizens of Tennsylvania^ 

IN consequence of an extraordinary state 
of things in this common^^ ealth, which we will not at pre- 
sent undertake to explain, we are compelled to adopt this 
mode of addressing you on the subject of nominating a 
candidate for the next Governor. The usual medium, 
through M'hich the democratic citizens of the state were 
accustomed to receive, or communicate information on 
important political subjects, is on the present occasion, 
denied. A number of printers, calling themselves demo- 
cratic, have undertaken to nominate a governor. In the 
progress of their plan, they are constantly exhibiting the 
pretensions of their candidate, and refuse to publish any 
thing in favor of another ; or to suffer any thing to appear 
in their papers, which would tend to illustrate the true po- 
litical character of their candidate. 

The Democratic Press alone, has published one or two 
articles, which might be construed in favor of another 
candidate. But the republication of those articles appears 
to have been scrupulously avoided by other printers, while 
the feeble pretensions of their candidate have been most 
industriously repeated. 

Thus the democratic citizens of the state are to be hood- 
winked, and in a short time be called upon to vote for a 
candidate, of whose political character a great portion of 
them will be entirely ignorant, until disclosed to them by 
their political opponents, at a time when it will be too 
late to retrace their steps. 

Impelled l)y a sense of die duty we owe to ourselves, 
and the people, who have a right to be informed, we shall 
cxliibit a statement of facts illustrative of the political char- 



_ 4 ~ 

acter of" Mr. Findlay. which cannot be contradicted. ' Al- 
though '.'ditors may combine, or conspire, to impose on 
the people, and conceal information ; \ve still have the 
means left us of expressing and communicating our opin- 
ions to the public. W^c shall confine ourselves, for the 
present, to the publicatiou of .tv,/o articles, which have 
been offered to editors for publication, but rejected. The 
iirst article, signed '■^Tours and the causers Friend^^'' is of 
lilde consequence further, thanthat.it shews ihc determin- 
ation of the editor (to whom it had been handed for publi- 
cation) to keep every other name but that of Mr. Findlay 
out of view. The second, signed '■'■One of the People ^^'' 
contains a short analysis of Mr. Findlay's claims, and an 
enquiry into his politic;il character and conduct, Avith state- 
ments of facts, referring to j:)nge ar.d book where they may 
be found. And for the facts not on record, avc refer \q\x 
to the members of the legislature in the years 1804-5, some 
of Avhom are now members — ^ve refer you even to Mr. 
Findlay himself; for whatever we may think of his quali- 
fications for governor, we believe him to be a man of \er- 
acity, and will not deny the facts. If he does, \\<t are 
])repared to prove them b\- the most unquestionable au- 
thority. 

We are aware, that cerfam printers will growl and 
clamor; that the ])articular friends of Mr. Findlay will be 
displeased— apprehensive that their plans, and tlieir pros- 
pects, might be deranged by the exposition of truth — per- 
haps will ask, who are the authors of this exposition? 
what are their motives ?r— Gentlemen printers, you pre- 
cluded us from expressing our opinions, examining, or 
discussing the comparative merits of candidates through 
the channel of your papers. Give us the names of \'our 
correspondents, who have eulogised your candidate ; give 
vjs your motives for relu^^ing to admit any article, except 
in favor of your candidate, before you demand eidier our 
i?amcs, or our motives. The great mass of the democrats 
have no concern in your j)riv..te plans, or individual pros- 
pects. Before yo.u are too inquisitive about names and 
motives, enquire what was the conduct of your candidate, 
Mr. Findlay, with regard to the banking system. Did he 
not oppose it as a ruinous system until the ye^u's 1813-14, 



■vvhen he ascertained a majority of the legislature were in 
nivor of it ? • Did he not then turn rou-.Kl, change his tone, 
and 6i\y, the people ought to be indulged — the go\'ernor 
ought to sigu the law, or permit it to go into operation with, 
out his sigiiiUure •? When t!ie governor negatived the 
bill, was he (Mr. F.) not waited on by the friends of it, 
to know whether he would allow his name to be used in 
opposition to Mr. Snvder ? And did he not express a 
%vish, that some coiijidentlal friend would siii^^est to Mr. 
Snyder the propriety^ or necessity^ of his xvithdrawing his 
name from the nomi?iafion, that all obstructions jniglit he 
removed out of his (Mr. Fmdlafs) way to the executive 
chair 5'— For information on these points ^ve refer you to 
the then members of the legislature, and to Mr. Findlav 
himself. 

You, fellow citizons, will perhaps ask, who arc ^ou who 
have undertaken to address us on this interesting sui^ject ? 
We answer that we are men, who never, on any occasion^ 
acted' or voted with federalists, or what are called old 
school-men. The principles of the former we condemn — 
. ihe principles and conduct of the latter we detest and des- 
pise. We have nothing to ask, and nothing to fear from 
any candidate. And to answer more explicitly by giving 
our names, would be to gratify curiosity, rather than j)ro- 
mote utility. We have given you facts ; and the ini]) :v. 
tant enquiry for the democratic party is, are these facts 
true ? We have referred you to the sources by which 
you can test them. If you find t\\Qm false — reject them ; 
but if you find them true — act like prudent and wise me:i — 
save yourselves from dii^grace, and the party from defeat. 

Were you travelling on a strange road, and you met a 
man who should inform }'ou that you M'ere approaching a 
dangerous precipice, and sh-aild even lead you to the 
brink, so that you could see for yourselves— would you 
rush on to destruction, because your friend, your well- 
wisher had declined giving you liis name ? This ' is a 
case in point;' — we have w.irned you of your danger — 
we have placed you in a situation, where you can view 
and examine for }-ourseives — and the consequences of }'our 
conduct hereafter will be on yourselves. 

We close our remarks by declaring, that am^ candidal; 



who may be nominated, Vv'ho is a man of talents, integri- 
ty, political firmness and experience^ we will iiupport most 
cheerfully, no matter whether he resides in the east, west, 
north, south, or centre of the state. The democratic can- 
didate ought to be not only pure, but like Caesar's wife, 
not eveii suspected. And, on a review of the facts stated, 
can the most incredulous man avoid, at least, a suspiciofi, 
that Mr. Findlay has some federal taint ? And are his 
merits so transcendant, that after deducting enough to bal- 
ance all political errors of conduct, there still remains a 
surplus to gi\'e him a claim superior to any other man ^vho 
can be selected out of the democratic party ? For the hon- 
or of the democracy of Pennsylvania let it not be so alleg- 
ed. But we are confident that the political character of 
Mr. Fjndlay is too timid and equivocal to command, or to 
receive the united and vigorous support of the democra- 
tic party, without which no candidate can be sustained 
against the combined force of faction and federalism. 

Many. 



"for the AMERICAN CENTINEL. 

•. TO THE PEOPLE OF PEJ^JK^SVLVAJ^M. 

•'■ One of yourselves, one who is anxious for the tri- 
umph of the good old cause at the next election for gov- 
ernor, begs leave to offer his opinions. I am desirous 
that the candidate of the democratic party be himself a 
sound republican, one who has been weighed in the ba- 
lance and not found wanting, one who has never truckled 
to federalism, or bowed the knee to Baal. I would prefer 
a man who " in the time that tried men's souls" stood rea- 
dy to defend his country ; one who in the reign of terror 
was ever forward to advocate his principles and party. I 
would have our candidate a man of talents, education and 
experience in public business, and of sterling integrity and 
manly firmness of character. Such is the kind of candi- 
date I should like ; he would unite the democratic party of 
Pennsylvania in his support and make his election sure — 
you will ask mc where are we to find such a man ? I an- 
swer, I have him ready to offer, and nothing is wanting to 



make him governor but that you think as well of him as J 
do. He is by birth a Pennsyh'anian, he was a soldier in 
tlie war of the revolution, for many years in the days of 
republican adversity as well as in those of prosperity, he 
has been the firm, able, and eloquent advocate of republi- 
can principles, and never has on any occasion abandoned 
the gi'cat democratic family of Pennsylvania. You are by 
this time desirous of knowing his name, and I am so lit- 
tle of a newspaper WTiter that I am ^villing to tell his name 
and so get done with my trouble. The name of the can- 
didate I would name, is N. B. Boileau of Montgomery 
county; the mentioning of his name will do more for him 
with many of the old republicans that know his services, 
and have a knowledge of his talents, than all I could say, 
if I were to write for an hour. And really I am so tired 
that I can only add 

" I am, 
" Yours and the cause's friend." 



Mr. Printer — Printers have been styled watch- 
men on the political batUements — to them the people are 
in the habit of looking for information. It is true, that 
printers have the pow^er to use their types, and their pres- 
ses as they please, and can only be made responsible for 
the abuse of them. I doubt, however, whether they have 
the right, upon the broad principles of justice, to withhold 
information from the public on interesting political quest- 
Ions, when communicated to them for publication ; for 
I conceive it their duty to give publicity to any cor- 
rect information touching the interesting question, which 
now engages the public attention, to wit : " Who shall 
BE THE Candidate for the Executive chair?" 

A short review of the canduct of editors, perhaps, may 
also be for the useful information of the people. The ci- 
tizens will observe, that the rem^irks ^vhich follow are 
mine, and not yours., and they Avill decide upon the cor- 
rectness of them by comparing them with the facts. 

It wdll be recollected that, shortly after the fourth of July, 
the editor at Harrisburg took occasion, from some toasts 
that were given at Philadelphia by individuals, to observe. 



that it was an attempt to dictate to the people who should be 
the next governor ; that it was premature to discuss the 
question — but added, that 'it vv^as \v'ell understood, diatMr. 
Boileau is the city and Mr. Findla}^ the country candidate." 
Thus at once tiirowing the apple of discord — setting the 
city and country in battle array against each othei-, and 
awakening local prejudices and distinctions. It would ap- 
pear, however, that he was mistaken, if we are to deter- 
mine from the conduct of printers at PhJhidelphia. The 
only one there (called a democratic printer) who has ex- 
pressed his mind, has announced his opinion and that of 
his correspondents, in favor of Mr. Findlay — " It is (to use 
the expression of that editor) a remarkable fact ^ that edit- 
ors at the south, west, and north, nearly at the same time 
repeated the charge of dictation upon the city," but at the 
same time announced Mr. Findlay as the man, without 
any possible means of ascertaining the general sentiments 
of the people; accompanying that nomination with an exhi- 
bition of the claims of their candidate. Those claims were 
republished over and over again ; at length after reiterating 
them, the editor of the Centinel conies out in the name 
of ' a subscriber.' (who he is we know not) "It is to be 
" hoped and earn(;stiy ''.vished, [no doubt] that the magna- 
^^ nimity of Mr. Boileiiu and his friends, and their known 
'' republican principles will induce them to join in support 
" of the common candidate" [of us three or four printers.] 
Very juodest and flattering wish indeed ! — As it regards 
Mr. Boileau, I have never learned that he offered himself m 
a candidate, or even solicited any man to bring his name 
into view. And, 1 feel confident, from the known char- 
acter of the man, that wh'.n a nomination is _/fl/r/// made, 
he never will suffer his name to be run in opposition, to 
distract the part;*-. 

There is another '■remarkable fact ^^ that while these 
printers were carefully copying every article that appeared 
in favor of their candidate, they remembered to forget to 
republish the {nw articles that appeared in the Democratic 
Press, giving some information as to the talents, political 
character, and services of Mr. Boilei-.u, which it appeared 
to me, contained some information, which, at k:ast. Avas 
equally important for the people to know. 



- 9 ~ 

Another * remarkable fact' is, that several of these edit- 
ors have absolutely refused to publish any article in favor 
of Mr. Boileau, althoui^h not a word was said to derogate 
from INIr. Findlay's claims, unless it was apprehended they 
mi.q;ht suffer by a comparison which their readers would 
make. 

I ■isk, fellow citizens, what think you of the candor^ 
liberality y or justice of such printers, who profess a desire 
to i^ive information ? Do you say, perhaps, they have su- 
perior means of information — such commanding talents-— 
hiu'e rendered such important services to their party, or 
tlieir country, as to entitle them exclusively to the right 
of making a nomination ? If they have, let them exhibit 
their claims. If they do, we can weigh them — and ma« 
terials are at hand to delineate their real political characters. 
Bui hvjwever exceptionable their conduct, or characters, it 
ought not to affect Mr. Findlay's claims, unless he has 
tampered with them, which I am unwilling to believe he 
did. Let us then, free from all prejudice or partiality ^ ex- 
amine the claims the}' have enumerated, and on which he 
is offered as pre-eminent over every other man in the par- 
ty, or the state. 

We will take them up in the order in which they have 
been presented — 

1. " That he zuas in favor of the arbitration system.'*'* 

For this he deserves due credit. But did he originate 
the system ? No ! Was he more active in procuring its 
adoption, than at least forty or fifty other members ? No ! 
The journal shews the contrary. He therefore has no ex- 
clusive claims on that ground. 

2. " That he has been unanimously elected state 
treasurer." 

This claim has been reiterated, and urged as conclusive. 
That it is evidence of the confidence the legislature had ia 
his honesty, is freely admitted. But is it evidence of su- 
perior merit, or talents suitable for a chief magistrate ? 
Could not any honest man of ordinary talents have filled 



^ 



- 10 - 

that station as well ? Besides, what becomes of the claims 
of Mr. Isaac Weaver, who was also unanimously elected 
state treasurer, and filled that office with equal ability and 
integrity ? Or what shall we say, if Peter Baynton should 
put in his claim on that ground ? He too was unanimous- 
ly elected state treasurer — and Mr. Findlay himself voted 
for him. Yet he left the office a public defaulter to the 
amount of about S 13,000, and still owes (unless paid 
within the last year) eight or ten thousand dollars. — I 
mean not to impeach Mr. Findlay 's honest}"^ — I am con- 
fident he will leave the office pure. But his claim cannot 
be exclusively plead in this case. 

3. " He is a professor of Religion.'^'* 

We admit the force of this claim. No man ought to 
be at the head of the government, who despises religious 
institutions. But is this claim exclusively his ? has he 
been remarkable for piety ? has he done much, or made 
great sacrifices to promote the cause of religion ? Wc 
have made enquiry, and are told by those who know him 
well, that he is a pretty regular attendant at church, but 
that he never ^vas in full communion ^vith any — at least 
not since he left Franklin. 

4. " That he has been a brigade inspector ^ 

I only remark on this, that it is not exclusive — there are 
perhaps more than a himdred persons in the state who have 
been brigade inspectors, and consequently have equal 
claims on that ground. 

5. and lastly. *' He is acquainted with the laws of the 
state^ and has read elementary writers on the 
law of nations.'''' 

That a governor should have a competent knowledge 
of the laws of the state, is certainly necessary ; but wc 
iTiust charitably hope that there are other men who possess 
equal acquirements. As it regards the laws of nations, it 
would be very proper for a president of the United States 



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(to which, possibly, some of Mr. Findlay's friends are look- 
ing forward) to ha\'C some knowledge of, but with regard 
to a governor, it is at least not indispensible ; and it is pre- 
sumed he is not the onl}' man who has read such books. 

We ha\'e now reviewed all the claims that have been ex- 
hibited to recommend Mr. Findlay to the democrats of the 
state — and, good heavens ! are they of that high character 
as to overwhelm the pretentions of any and every other 
man in the democratic party ? Do the printers view it as 
high treason to name any other man in their papers ? *' Tell 
it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon," lest 
the uncircumcised Icderaliats should rejoice. What must 
the enlightened democrats of the state think ! What ideas 
must our sister states form of the democratic party of this 
great state ! 

The editors of newspapers having, as they believed, fix- 
ed the claims of Mr. Findlay so firmly on the minds of the 
democrats, it only remained for them, to coax 'auA pal- 
aver the federalists a little, to make his election sure. 
Read Avhat the friends of Mr. Findlay themselves say on 
this subject : " That the character of Mr. Findlay is such 
" as is here stated, his enemies have admitted. The Lan- 
" caster Journal in 1805, when the subject of calling aeon- 
•' vention \vas [igitatcd, denounced every member of the 
" legislature attached to the democratic party, except Mr. 
" Findlay. The paucity of democratic talent was then, as 
" it is to this day, a standing theme of federal taunt and 
•' ridicule ; our ears are as much accustomed to hear the 
" sound of ZiO-/2or<7??? democrants from federal mouths, as 
'' that of infidel Turk from pious christians; yet Mr. Find- 
"lay was pronounced a solitary exception; he was the 
" only member of the House of Representatives in 1805, 
" ^vliose thoughts in speaking could keep pace with his 
•' utterance.' So said federalists. 

" One fact, perhaps, goes as far as any thing that may 
'' be produced to place Mr. Findlay on high ground as a 
•'man of worth. In the county which returned him a 
•' member of the legislature, he never failed to succeed in 
" his election when he was a candidate, although the re- 
" publicans who stood on the ticket xvith him lost their elec- 
'* tion. In the year 1806, a close election took place iii 



<v' 



- 12 - 

" Franklin county, in which the federalists succeeded in 
*' electing the members of xA-ssembly, with the exception 
*' of Mr. Findlav, ^^■ho had upwards of an hundred votes 
" more than the "highest federalist elected. His popul-^rity 
*' is not of that character, as Lord Mansfield sa3-s, m hicli 
*' 'the man follows, but that which follows the man.' Kis 
" wisdom to discern, and his integrity to pursue llie inter- 
*'est of his constuents, made him the object of the choice 
" ol federal voters in preference even to men of their own 
*' party. The people for a distinguishable excellence 
" sought him, instead of him seeking the people." (vSec 
American Centinel of Dec. 27, 1816.) A fast friend of 
Mr. Findlay's. 

The above recommendation is not for you democrats — 
it is intended as a private confidential hint to federalists- 
it amounts precisely to this : — Federalists, it is true wq 
call our candidate, Mr. Findlay, a republican — but names 
are nothing— 'we are ^Wfederahsts^ we are all republicans^ — 
there is but a slight sh;>de of diiference betvv-een Mr. Find- 
lay and you — he is of that accominodating, easy, political 
virtue, that jf he is elected, he will do you '«o essential in- 
jury'^ -r~-s>o\\\k: of }'ou voted for liim, or he never would have 
been unanimously elected state treasurer — the federalists 
of Franklin, who have the best opportunity to know his 
character, //r*?/^^ him even to men of their own party — look 
over die journals, you will there see that on all trying jdo- 
litieal questions, he voted with your federal friends — fall 
in ! fall mto die ranks, gentlemen, and vote for Mr. Find- 
lay — we repeat it again, he will do you ' no essential in- 
jury!' 

Democracts of Pennsylvania, are you prepared to elect 
to the highest oflice in your gift, a character so equivocal — 
a man whom federalists ])refer to one of their own party ? 
No !-we answer for you-that willingly and knowingly }'ou 
never will be guilt)^ of such political suicide. A deter- 
vnned, decisive democrat alone, in the executive chair, 
can preserve the vigor, and permanent ascendancy of the 
democracy of Pennsylvania. 

But let us enquire whether v.e cannot find claims more 
substantial, which the friends of Mr. Findlay have modest- 
ly concealed, such as education, talents, political frmness^ 



- IS - 

patriotism^ important services rendered to the democraiic 
purtv. Of his educ ition we say notliing, because we kp.ow 
nothing. Of his talents we have seen no cssa}'s, or com- 
positions on any subject, upoii \vhich to form our opinion; 
\vc have turned over the pages of the journals during the 
time he mms a member, say for four or five years, but see 
no resolutions or reports he has made, which disco\er tal-- 
ents. As to political firmness, in examining the journal 
in 1797-8 we are uiuibie to discover to what political par- 
ty he belonged ; and during Adams' ' reign of terror' wc 
do not find him in political life at all — In 1803-4 we again 
se? his name on tlic journal, but nothing remarkable at- 
tending it — In 1804-5, page 376, we find a bill presented 
to take rhe appointment of comptroller and register gener- 
al out of the power of the governor, and vest it in the Ic- 
gislature. O.i enquiry we learn, that that measure origin- 
ated in cons -qu^^nceof the comptroller general, Mr. S. Biy- 
an, rejecting certain accounts which he considered unjust 
and exorbitant. Mr. Duffield, the register, differed with 
him, and of course the su Inject was referred to governor 
M'Kean as umi:)ire, who passed the accounts. In conse- 
qu:^nce of it Mr. Bryan remonstrated, and the governor 
threatened to dismiss him. To save a valuable and fiith- 
fnl officer, and to protect the treasury, wub the object of 
the bill. Mr. Findlay voted against it in eveiy stage, to- 
gether with every federalist in the house ; it passed, how- 
ever, by a large majorit}', but was returned by the gover- 
nor with his objections — he urged that it Vv'as his constitu- 
tional right to aj:)point the officers, and that he would hand 
it down 'unimpared to his successors.' Mr. Findlay, 
with all the federalists, again voted against the passage of 
the bill. It was lost — and Mr. Br\'an removed. (See 
journal 1804-5, pages 458, 463, 604.') In the same .ses- 
sion a bill for regulating the administration of justice, em- 
bracing the arbitration principle, passed by a large major-. 
ity, bat was returned by the governor with his objections; 
and when the vote was taken on those objections, Mr. 
Findlay, who had voted for the bill on its passage, was 
absent with two or three others, and the bill was lost for 
want of two votes ; yet on the same day, and on the next 
question, Mr. Fiiidlay had resumed his seat ! (See jour- 



- 14 - 

nal 1804-5, pages 645, 646.) In the same session Mr, 
Passmore made complaint to the legislature against three 
of the supreme judges for an assumption and arbitrary ex- 
ercise of power, in fining and imprisoning him for an al- 
leged contempt, of which he had purged himself b)^ an- 
swering interrogatories, and ^\ith ^vhich the judges de- 
clared they were satisfied as to the court, but insisted on 
his making an apology to Mr. B}'ard whom it was alleged 
he had libelled — this he refused, and was fined and im- 
prisoned. On the articles of impeachment 57 voted for, 
and 24 against them — all the federalists in the house with 
Mr. P'indlay voted against them. (See journal of that ses- 
sion page 634.) Thus opposing any enquiry being made 
into their conduct. — On the trial before the Senate, 13 vo- 
ted in favor of their conviction, and 1 1 against it — every 
federalist and quid in that body voting against their con- 
viction — Was there not someting singular, if not incon- 
sistent, in the conduct of Mr. Findlay, in voting for the 
acquittal of three ^e^c^d-r^/ judges, who had acted in an arbi- 
trary and cruel manner; and in a few days after, not only 
voting for, but being active in promoting the removal of 
Breckenridge, the only democratic judge then on the 
bench? — and that not for arbitrary or cruel conduct, but 
for an alleged contempt of the legislature. On this occa- 
sion Mr. Findlay discovered much spirit in supporting the 
dignity of the legislature ; but when Mr. M'Kean soon af- 
ter insulted the legislature and the people too most gross- 
ly, he quietly pocketed the insult, and voted in favor of 
nominating him for governor in preferrence to Mr. Sny- 
der. — To explain this paradox, a few remarks will be ne- 
cessary. Breckenridge was obnoxious to the federalists 
and the governor ; and Mr. Findlay could not render a 
more pleasing service to them, than to procure the remov- 
al of Breckenridge, or at least put it in the power of the 
executive, to remove him in case the others were con- 
victed. 

In 1805 governor M'Kean had so insulted the demo- 
cratic party, by calling them 'geese,' 'ignoramusses,' and 
'clodpoles,' and that he 'regarded tlie legislature no more 
than the dust under his feet, ^ that the democratic members 
of the legislature determined to resent the insult, and nom- 



- 15 ^ 

inate another candidate for governor. Mr. Findlay, in cau- 
cus, (as is known to many of the democratic members, 
and wiiich he huTisclf acknowledged) voted in favor of the 
nomination of Mr. M'Kean in opposition to Mr. Snyder. 
So much for poHtical firmness. 

With regard to patriotism, we kno\v not in any instance 
that Mr. Findlay has exposed either his /^er^on or his purse 
in the cause of liberty, or his country. And as to services 
to the democratic party, wc are also ignorant — let his par- 
ticular friends produce the evidence of them. 

With this plain simple atatement of facts which cannot 
be contradicted, we ask the intelligent, firm democrats of 
the state — are you prepared to elevate by your votes such 
a character to the highest office in your gift ? Will the 
steady old democrats from the year 1797 up to the present 
time, vote for a man in 1817 who, with the federalists in 
1803-4-5 rallied round tht prerogatives of the governor and 
judges, and in the year 1805 voted in favor of the nomi- 
nation of Mr. M'Kean, notwithstanding he had insulted 
in the grossest m.anner the people as well as the legislature, 
of u'hich Mr. Findlay was a member ? It is impossible ! 

Delegates, whoever you may be — pause, before you 
venture to jeopardise the party by such a nomination. You 
may have your partialities, or your prejudices ; but with 
them the great democratic family have nothing to do — 
pause, before you call on us to repair to the polls without 
an argument in our mouths to support the candidate, or 
an answer on our tongues to obviate objections — pause, 
lest you might place the party in a predicament unspeak- 
ably aukward and embarrassing. Eleven men unauthor- 
ised and unknown may hold a convention and nominate 
electors, and the federal party will support them to a man : 
half a dozen may convene at a tavern in the city and nom- 
inate a governor, and the federalists to a man will support 
that nomination ; but the democrats are not so well drill- 
ed — they arc a stiff necked people — they ^vill not be sold^ 
like silly sheep. — If with these facts before you, ( which' arc 
no secrets, they are ki1o\vn to many democrats and federa- 
lists, and the latter will be industrious to make them still 
more known) you should make such a nomination, defeat 
and disgrace appear to me inevitable. 



^ 16 - 

The annals of this state, or of any stale in the union, 
cannot produce a parallel instance of a mc.n recommended 
to so high an office, upon pretensions so bald, not to say 
ineffably ridiculous. The mau himself, if at all qualified 
for the office, must laugh in his sleeve at the idea of them ; 
and his prospect of success must be in proportion to his 
belief ih^X the democracts are indeed such 'geese,' 'ignor- 
amiisses,* and ' clodpoles,' as M'Kean described them to 
be in 1805. Really, ^^hen we finst heard of those preten- 
sions, we thought them a quiz, until we perceived them 
repeated and repeated in every quarter of the state as seri. 
ous things. 

If such men as Boileau, and Weaver, and others, who 
from the year 1797 through all the time of federal intole- 
rance, ^^■ere in the heat and front of die battle, who never 
deserted their post on any occasion, are to be now thrown 
in the back grouixl, in order to elevate one who was not 
onlij in the rear rank, but on the most trying occasions 
found in the ranks of the enemy — then call it liberality ^ 
for^iviness. or any thing but political justice. 

One of the People. 






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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



III: ll! ill: lllllli 

014 312 379 ^ 



